Tuesday, December 7, 2010

WE MUST NOT FORGET!

Pearl Harbor Day. On this day in 1941, the Japanese provoked the United States into entering WWII. God granted us victory over our enemies and as such, not only should this day be a day we remember the lives lost in that harbor, but we must also remember that God was gracious to our country. I thank God for His grace and for the service men and women who so valiantly fought that I should be able to worship God freely and speak English. We must not forget! We cannot afford to forget.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Well You THOUGHT Wrong!

I've read THIS article with great interest. A man in Tennessee "neglects"(thought wrong) to pay for fire protection, man's house is on fire, man calls the fire department, they refuse to put out the fire, man's house burns down, man is mad because they did not put out the fire. And here is the kicker spoken by the man himself. "'I thought they'd come out and put it out, even if you hadn't paid your $75, but I was wrong,' said Gene Cranick"(article). Well, you THOUGHT wrong!

This idea that someone else will carry the load is invading our society at rapid speed. Someone else is supposed to pay for my car, my appliances, my insurance, my medical and the list goes on and on. And even when I "should" have paid and did not, oh well, they'll take care of me anyway.

I am not going to point to any great reference to substantiate what I am about to say but rather rely upon my own point of reference and experiences that I have been partaker of and have observed. Theological Liberalism's fruit is beginning to ripen. This concept invaded the Church and is now fully fruited in society. This concept, that you owe me whether I have met the standard or not, was bred in the philosophies of man as a push against God. Justification without Sanctification was and is pandered. Rights without responsibilities was and is pandered. Actions without consequences was and is pandered. We have negated and neglected God's Word which so clearly and importantly tells us that a man reaps what he sows. Where one does not sow, one does not reap. But make no mistake, everyone is sowing something and will reap from that sowing.

Fast forward to the Judgement. How many millions will use this man's response before God but to no avail. How many people standing at the precipice of hell will respond with, "I thought Jesus would come out and put out the fires of hell for me, even if I hadn't accepted salvation on His terms, but I was wrong." Just like for this man, there will be no salvation after the fact. No insurance company would sell this man a policy while his house is on fire. No insurance company would sell a man a policy while a storm is in the Gulf of Mexico. No insurance company will sell a burial policy after the individual is dead. And no, Jesus will not save anyone after death who did not trust Him before death.

Socialism-legal theft according to man. Liberalism-spiritual truth according to man. There is a way which seems right to man but the end thereof is death or as I titled this post, you THOUGHT wrong.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

SBC in Orlando 2010: Kadesh or Kibosh?

I’m daring to venture into an arena that I do not approach lightly. For various reasons do I approach this arena at times and I do so with great respect not only for the venue but for those who I bring with me into this setting. Never-the-less, I remain undaunted at the task that is before me and endeavor to be fair and forthright.

SBC President Johnny Hunt addressed the Convention on Tuesday with a message from Numbers 13-14 and Joshua 14. He entitled his message, “The Southern Baptist Convention at its Kadesh Barnea”. His great appeal was to persuade the Convention to approve the GCTFR that was to be presented and he used the aforementioned texts to drive home his point. However, though his use of the Numbers passage has a ring of authenticity, is his use of the text authentic to the Text?

Hunt painted the picture that those who would vote against the GCTFR were like the 10 spies who brought back the negative report in contrast to those who would vote for the GCTFR being like Joshua and Caleb. Is his picture, is his analogy true to the text of the Scripture that he based it upon? Let’s look at the text.

In Numbers 13-14, 12 spies were sent into the land and were to bring back a report with authenticating evidence, fruit, from the land. If there is any correlation between this passage and the GCTFR report, it would look something more like what I will propose thus insisting that our use of a text demands that we be true to the text and not use it for a proof text to bolster our opinions. The 12 spies would be likened to the GCTF and to them only. The 12 spies were sent to search out and the GCTF was commissioned to research and report of their excursion into “the promised land” (Great Commission Resurgence). THUS, if all the members of the GCTF approved of the report to the Convention, Hunt’s use of this analogy in the way that he does comes not from the Text but from Hunt’s desire to persuade the Convention to approve the report. The Convention would be likened to the crowd who would receive the report of the committee, NOT the 10 unbelieving spies. But allow me to press the analogy further. Was some of the Convention really UNBELIEVING or were they as of yet UNCONVINCED because of the lack of fruit to demonstrate that the spies “committee” had been where they say they had been. Truthfully, the fruit was not produced but rather sealed away in a freezer for 15 years time after which the fruit will no longer be fresh and the moment will have passed away. Instead, the Convention was asked to believe the report of the GCTF without the substantiating documentation, fruit. The GCTF sought to keep those records private and the majority of the convention voted to do so but what this did for many was eliminate the verifying fruit that the Committee had gone where it was supposed to have gone.

The way the sermon was presented turns the Text into a piece of clay that is molded to fit the hands of the potter. Rather, I was taught in Seminary that the Text is the potter and it is supposed to mold my hands, the clay.
I do not believe this Text was used properly either within its context or the use by which it was designed to persuade the Convention. This does not mean that I believe the GCTFR lacked validity but rather that the chief speech, Hunt’s presidential address, that was used to bully, as the lady said, some into voting for it was just that, a big stick meant to provoke. Well it has provoked me enough into saying that even if I thought the Committee was going in the right direction, the method used to accomplish that direction would make me want to vote against it altogether.
I conclude that his use of the Text was not authentic to the Text. The GCTFR may indeed end up being the SBC’s Kadesh. Why? Because the MAJORITY in the Text ruled the day just as the majority ruled in Orlando.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

LESSON FROM A FLOWER



There it grew, far from the observation of those who seldom stray from the beaten path. Like a burst of fireworks piercing through the darkness, this blossom of flowers reached up through the undergrowth and showed forth its beauty. Had the little trail that was used to access this area not existed, scarcely could one conceive that a human might have stumbled upon it during its brief display of devotion to God's calling upon it. Far from other blooming flowers, distant from the busy path of life, this little flower was doing what God placed it to do. The flower was displaying the Glory of God and giving glory to God and, it was in a place that would be seldom seen by the passing masses should any of them even but for a moment veer from their busy schedule. No banners, billboards or advertisements drew attention to itself. It simply did what it was designed to do. No parades, no pomp and circumstance, no confetti and noisemakers inhabited the realm of this flower, just quiet solitude and devotion before and to God Almighty.

Christian, pastor's especially, the limelight is not where ability or calling will be displayed for the majority of us. Instead, can we just be like this little flower with no regard to who on earth is looking but instead, with all regard to God above? Can we learn to be content where God has placed us and live to His glory despite our not being surrounded by accolades, sycophants and cameras? Life is really not all that long and maybe, just maybe, instead of striving for the stage of men, we should really be striving upon the stage where God has placed us, even if seldom ever seen by the eyes of men.

Whether I had stopped by or not was irrelevant to this little flower. It was going to bloom where it was whether I saw it or not. God help me to be like this little flower, content in doing WHAT you've called me to do WHERE you've called me to do it.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

HOBO STEW ON THE NEWS

The immigration law of Arizona continues to make the news. Apparently, this professional basketball team thinks that their ability to dribble a ball makes them experts on what is good for our country. Taking their thoughts to a logical conclusion would lead to a basketball game where anything goes. I mean if we are not going to enforce laws ALREADY law but weakly enforced, then why should rules on the court be enforced? (Sarcasm Alert)The fact that you are supposed to dribble the ball while running across court discriminates against those who cannot! Think of the world we could open up if you could just run with the ball and knock others out of your way.

So a guy gets tasered at a baseball game. BIG DEAL!!! Better than rubber bullets right?! Well anyway, everyone who is second guessing the actions of the security need to take a brain check. The information known about the kid is known AFTER the fact, not during the sprint across the field. Had he pulled a knife or attacked one of the players, those same critics would have been complaining that the security had not done enough to protect the players. Once again, this is a case of someone doing something ILLEGAL and facing the consequences of it. Why can't people understand that CONSEQUENCES are a result of actions. If you don't want the consequences, don't do the action.

President Obama once again suffers from Joe Biden's loose lips disease. Apparently, Obama is growing more arrogant(or at least, undignified) towards those of us who oppose high taxes, big government and liberal social policy. Can you imagine the outcry if Bush had referred to the Taliban as raghe@ds? But really, it has less to do with "well if he can...I should be able to..." and rather points to the eroding of the dignity of the office which he holds. He cries foul when political groups are called unflattering names and yet he with the log in his own eye is trying to be an expert and point out the problems of others?

And one more item for the day and that concerns the oil spill. I think that the fact that we have not had a drilling rig/production platform spill in how many years in the Gulf demands our appreciation for those who have done their jobs so well. Granted, when an accident occurs in this field it is usually costly in terms of lives, livelihood and environment however, accidents of this nature are the anomaly for the Gulf of Mexico oil expeditions. I do hope that we could achieve a 100% perfect record but even as in space exploration, sooner or later, a usually insignificant(to the untrained eye) part fails and leads to a major catastrophe. Hopefully, we'll learn from this accident and have an even greater record of safety and production.

Friday, April 30, 2010

A REAL MOTHER PROTECTS, NOT ABORTS!

Even as accustomed to hearing about abortion as we are in this day and age, it still should stir us deep within our souls. The fact that hundreds of babies are killed daily as a "choice" is disturbing when one considers the kind of heart that it takes to submit to such a procedure. Without natural affection is the way Paul describes such in Romans 1.

On the other hand, a story arises that demonstrates the complete opposite of such darkened hearts. Nikki Bradshaw Carpenter(LINK) died while trying to protect her three children during a recent tornado in Mississippi. How stark a contrast she provides to the hearts of baby killers today.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Why They Could Not See Jesus

Luke 24:13-35

So they're walking from Jerusalem when Jesus joins them in their excursion. They did not "notice" who He was and Luke records that they were kept from recognizing Him. The interesting part about the verb is that it is in the passive tense which means something was acting upon them to keep them from recognizing Him. Some insert here that this was a "Divine" blindness put upon them by God. I'd like to propose an alternative.

In verse 25, when Jesus begins the greatest unrecorded Old Testament class of history, He labels these two as slow of heart to believe. In other words, they were experiencing a drought of faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God is what Paul teaches us in Romans and so it should be no shock then that Jesus begins to teach, from the word of God, these two men. In order to build their faith, He taught them His word. He taught them the revelation of Himself in what we know as the Old Testament Scriptures.(I really would have loved to have been there.)

The real reason why these two were not able to see Jesus is that they were not believing the witness of the Scripture. They knew Jesus was crucified. They HAD BELIEVED(emphasis mine) that Jesus was the redeemer of Israel. They had heard of the incredible story told by the women but they had also heard of Peter and John's report of an empty tomb but no Jesus.

With all that they could see, Jesus was not who they thought He was to be. They were blinded by their own vision. They were blinded by THEIR OWN UNBELIEF. Thus, Jesus taught them the Word, which brought forth faith which when coupled with the eating of the bread led to the opening of their eyes. Surely, He could have opened their eyes earlier but the point is pressed that faith comes by hearing the word of God. In fact, their hearts were telling them this was Jesus the whole time(verse 32) but they didn't believe because of what they had seen with their eyes.

Why could they not see Jesus? They could not see Jesus because of unbelief. If you and I want to see Jesus, we need to hear His Word. Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing. And what should we believe? The testimony of Scripture is the answer for the child of God.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Elton John Thinks... But God's Word Says!!!

This is a recent quote from Elton John.

"I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems."


This is a quote from the Word of God.

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." Romans 1:21-25 (emphasis mine)

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

MARDI GRAS...and Why I don't!

Mardi Gras is a big festival here in south Louisiana. From the city of Beaumont Texas to the city of Mobile, Alabama along the I-10 corridor, one would be hard pressed today, Fat Tuesday, to miss all of the "celebrating" taking place. It is a deeply entrenched tradition here in Louisiana. As it is celebrated, it ought to be the shame of the south.

Masks are a big part of the shindig. People wear masks for "anonymity". This anonymity allows them to do things in public that they ordinarily would not do. In fact, masks are even said to be the great levelers of society. Once the mask is donned, all other masked individuals instantly become your friends no matter what life is like, without the mask. Maybe it is appropriate that masks are worn. They do, in some respects, indicate the shame in the activities that take place.

Fat Tuesday is the biggest day of the period. It is a day to feast before the fast. It is a day to indulge before one restrains. It is a day steeped in drunkenness and debauchery. It is a day of parades and floats and millions of plastic throws of which the most popular is bead necklaces. It is a day when one plans to sin and indulge BEFORE one repents and prays(Ash Wednesday). The Bible, under the New Covenant clearly states that we are not to sin because we are under grace(Romans 6). But neither under the Old Covenant was such allowed because no sacrifice was made for presumptuous sins(Numbers 15:30-31). Planning to sin is different than falling into temptation. It reveals a twisted heart and calls into question the genuineness of one's relationship to Jesus, if such is claimed.

Mardi Gras is also linked to the past. One of the most infamous krewes is the Krewe of Bacchus. Bacchus was the greek god of wine and revelry. A short GOOGLE search will give you much information about him. This parade was recently held in New Orleans and Drew Brees, of the 2010 Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints, reigned as King of Bacchus. Surely one cannot miss the imagery that the quarterback(now a god) brought revelry to the streets once again. He, Drew Brees, was even quoted as saying, "We love you New Orleans. Hail Bacchus." For a man who professes Christianity to offer praise to a god other than Jesus Christ ought to be a moment of shame for true professors of Christ, not joy.

This is why I do not celebrate Mardi Gras. It is a time when man celebrates man, and man honors gods, but man does not honor God. It is a time when sin is celebrated rather than resisted. It is a time of drunkenness. It is a time of presumption on the grace of God.

"Come out of her my people" is as relevant today as it was over 2000 years ago.